“Thanks,” she smiled, still charged and happy from her dance. She went and got her water bottle and took a few gulps.

“That’s my cue,” said Megan when Trey announced her right away.

“You got this!” I whispered to her as she sashayed to her marked spot onstage, her arms swinging side to side in the air.

Eliza and I watched in silence, standing shoulder to shoulder. I had to say something to her, now while Megan wasn’t around. We’d be flying out later tonight, and I didn’t want to leave things the way they were.

I cleared my throat. “We didn’t get to take our picture on the nationals stage,” I said, looking straight ahead.

“Oh, right! I kind of forgot about that, actually,” she replied, keeping her eyes on Megan.

“You did?” I pivoted to face her. “I texted you a few times yesterday.”

Eliza looked at me, puzzled. “Ack! I’m sorry! I thought I texted you back.”

“Really? I thought you were mad at me!” I blurted.

Eliza stared at me, even more confused than before. “Mad? Why?”

Before I could respond, the crowd erupted in applause for Megan, who was making her way offstage with her hands up. I answered by meeting her with high fives.

“You were amazing,” I said truthfully.

“I know,” she responded with a mischievous grin. I shook my head and half smiled.

“Let’s hear it for Harper, our next dancer from DanceStarz Academy in Florida!” Trey shouted me out.

Eek! I’d been so wrapped up in everything I’d almost forgotten it was going to be my turn to dance.

“You got this!” I heard Megan throw at my back. Well. That was unexpected and nice.

My turn to shine.

I remembered when I first moved to Florida and I was so nervous about not being good enough in my new dance squad. I remember imagining what it would like to be chosen for a solo. . . .

The announcer would say:

Please welcome to the stage: Harper! Performing . . . A SOLO!

I would walk onto the stage, my head held high. I would get into my opening pose as the music began . . . five . . . six . . . seven . . . eight! And I would dance! I would dance, and I would nail it!

Now it was really happening—at nationals! I trotted onto the stage, flashing a smile, waving at the crowd before turning my back to them. As the sleigh bells rang out in surround sound, I twisted my torso to the right to peek at the crowd playfully. I did the same to the left before launching into a barrel turn and barrel jump. It was a routine packed with tricky moves in the first part of the dance, but I felt lighter than air with each leap, kick, and spin.